Pre-Conference

1. Spiritual (Silent) Retreat

A Silent Spiritual Retreat for Mission Workers and Carers

“Come away by yourselves to a quiet place and rest for a while.” Mark 6:31.

Jesus invites us to pause from the demands of ministry and enter a quiet space of rest and renewal. This retreat offers missions workers and carers an opportunity for silence, prayer, and reflection in an unhurried environment. Through personal time, spiritual reflection, and optional individual guidance, participants are encouraged to reconnect with the Lord and return refreshed for life and ministry.

Retreat Facilitators
Swee Ghim & Wye Choon Cheong previously served with Operation Mobilisation (OM) in East Asia in leadership and member care roles. Since 2014, they have facilitated silent retreats for missionaries and churches with a focus on spiritual formation, mentoring, and discernment.

2. A Time for Us (Marriage Retreat)

Limited to 6 couples.

Ever wonder why missions, ministry, and marriage can be so challenging? Feeling disconnected, overwhelmed, or too busy to nurture your marriage?

Join mission and ministry couples from across Asia for three and a half days of renewal, growth, and rest in Penang, Malaysia.

Enjoy:

• Practical workshops and couple processing groups
• Dedicated time together as a couple
• Optional counseling with marriage/member care specialists
• Worship, encouragement, and community with other ministry couples

Retreat Facilitators
A team of professional counselors and therapists.

3. EMDR/ATIP

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is a therapeutic approach that helps individuals process distressing memories, trauma, anxiety, grief, and other emotional challenges. Through guided bilateral stimulation, EMDR supports the brain’s natural healing process, helping people move toward greater emotional freedom, resilience, and well-being.

The training is open to licensed mental health professionals or those under clinical supervision, typically with a master’s degree or higher in counseling, psychology, social work, psychiatry, or a related field.

Acute Traumatic Incident Processing (ATIP) is a related therapy that helps individuals process and stabilize after a recent traumatic event.

ATIP training is open to mental health professionals, counselors, pastors, chaplains, and caregivers with relevant counseling, clinical, or pastoral experience.

Trainer
Kim Johnson, L.C.S.W., holds a Master’s in Social Work from San Diego State University and received her EMDR Therapy training in 2000. She is an EMDRIA Certified Therapist, Approved Consultant, and Trainer for EMDR Therapy Basic Training. Kim specializes in EMDR with young children and clients with dissociative disorders, co-facilitates the Greater Sacramento Regional EMDR Network, and speaks internationally to promote EMDR training. Since responding to God’s call to promote EMDR training, she has been invited to train therapists and frontline workers in Ukraine, Thailand, Penang, the Philippines, and Nepal.